Pets Without Parents

This August I met a very special little guy. He was about 6 weeks old, white and dusty gray, covered in fleas, and in desperate need of medical attention thanks to a severe upper respiratory infection. Having never cared for a sick kitten before, I called all the vets in my neighborhood, and the two no kill cat-friendly shelters in my home city of Columbus, Ohio. Pets Without Parents (PWP) stepped up immediately. They provided me with a list of resources, advice, and even helped me get little "Monty" adopted by one of the kindest couples I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. 

While Monty was at the shelter I came in to visit him everyday, and over the course of my visits I got to know many of loving and dedicated staff and volunteers who help to save the lives of ~600 cats and dogs per year. I was so inspired that I started volunteering in November. 

I found out this week that Pets Without Parents is no longer able to afford the down payment for their new, and desperately needed, facility, due to a recent case of Parvovirus in a litter of puppies. 

One of the most admirable and unique things about Pets Without Parents is its policy concerning euthanasia. As the only cat and dog no-kill shelter in Columbus, Ohio, they refuse to euthanize unless an animal is unable to be helped and is in pain. Consequently, in cases where animals are surrendered when sick or injured, large vet bills (in this case $40,000) can accrue quite quickly. This was the case with the sick pups, who were surrendered with parvovirus. The puppies were treated, and adopted out, but all the cats (including quirky Arwen pictured above) and dogs who are still waiting for their new families have been left in the lurch.  

Pets Without Parents is currently housed in a home built in the 1920s. The rooms are cramped and difficult to clean due to the age of the building, and there is not enough space for potential pet rescuers to really interact with the pets at the facility. There also isn't enough room to allow for an open, indoor, puppy facility. 

While it may seem indulgent to hope for a new home for Pets Without Parents, these things can make a big difference to the lives of rescue animals. Having a new building with easy to clean surfaces helps to prevent the spread of disease, and helps to stretch volunteer hours further. Larger, and more open, facilities help rescue animals to de-stress, allowing their true personalities to show. This increases their odds of being adopted exponentially. A nicer facility also makes adopting a more pleasurable experience for shelter goers, which means more homeless pets get to go home! 

All donated money will go towards a down payment for a new facility for Pets Without Parents, and you can rest assured that your generosity will be appreciated by countless animals and animal loving humans for many years to come. Many, many lives will be saved! Thank you very much for your consideration!! 

Leigh

P.S. If you have possibly fallen in love with sweet Arwen (above), as visitors often to do, and you are up for a challenge, she is up for adoption at Pets Without Parents!  She is one of the friendliest cats I have ever met (and I have met a LOT of cats). She purrs like a very loud little lawn mower when you approach her, and she jumps into your lap when you open her cage. She also smiles with her little tongue sticking out when you pet her. Unfortunately, due to the fact that she is FIV positive, older, and has a reoccurring benign tumor on her little lower lip, she has been at the shelter for several years now. She would make an amazing addition to a very special family, if given the chance, so if you feel up to a challenge and want a lot of kitty love come to Pets Without Parents to see if she might be the one for you. :)